However, the price trends were mixed in the 1Q/13, with hardwood fiber prices lower in Asia and Eastern Canada and slightly higher in Europe and Latin America compared with the 4Q/12. Eucalyptus pulpwood prices in Brazil have fallen more than in most other regions the past two years, with 1Q/13 prices being down more than 30% since 2011.
This dramatic decline has resulted in Brazilian pulp mills now enjoying the fourth lowest wood fiber costs in the world, behind Russia, the U.S. South, and Chile, respectively.
The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) in the 1Q/13 was practically unchanged from the 4Q/12 at $99.90/odmt. The SFPI has inched downward for seven consecutive quarters and is currently down 8.8% from the most recent peak in 2Q/11, according to the WRQ. The biggest changes in the 1Q/13 in U.S. dollar terms were the declines in chip prices in Eastern Canada, Japan, Western Canada, and the U.S. Northwest. The biggest increases occurred in France and Germany.
There has been an increased supply of residual chips from the sawmilling sector that has turned up the production levels over the past six months. This is the major reason for the declining prices in Canada and the U.S. Prices for wood chips in Canada have fallen more than 15% in just over a year.
With improved markets for softwood lumber in the U.S., it is likely that the availability of lower-cost wood fiber for the pulp industry throughout North America will continue through the rest of 2013 and into 2014.
More information is available online.
TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/